Guard-rail.



B. T. GIBBS,1II.

GUARD RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.2o, 1915.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON n r B. T. GIBBS, JR.

GUARD RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, i915. 1,173,420. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. T. GIBBS, JR.

GUARD RAIL.

APPucATloN FILED 0m20.191s.

l 173,420. Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

'frn sans AParu prio.

BENEDICT T. GIBBS, JR., OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MORDENFROG & CROSSING WORKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GUARD-BAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 20, 1915. Serial No. 67,705.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENEDICT T. GIBBS, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago Heights, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Guard-Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to guard rails for tracks carrying movingvehicles, notably railroad rails.

The object of the invention is to provide a guard rail applicable to atrack rail for a considerable distance, as over two or more ties, inwhich the guard rail itself and the devices for securing it in place aremade in two or more pieces as distinguished from the one-piece devicesof the prior art, so that the guard rail proper may be placed inposition, removed and replaced with or without renewal of one of theparts as desired without its being necessary to remove and replace themajor parts of the securing device.

The invention consists in a device for carrying out the foregoingobjects, which can be easily and cheaply made and installed, which issatisfactory in operation and not readily liable to get out of order.Also in the features and details of construction hereafter more fullydescribed in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which simi# lar numerals indicate the sameparts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 is aside view of mechanism illustrating this invention inV its preferredform. Figs. 3, 4.and 5 are transverse sectional detail views on thecorrespondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1. Fig.' 6 is a perspective viewof the guard rail proper removed from all other parts. Fig. 7 is acorresponding perspective view of the securing device. Fig. 8 is asectional and perspective view'showing the relations of the parts inassembled and finally adjusted position. Fig. 9 is a sectional detailview on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 10 shows the device providedwith a modified construction of slot 32.

The device of this invention is applicable to any sort of a'rail overwhich a vehicle passes, and is hereconventionally shown as applied tothe rail 10 resting upon ties 12, in the ordinary manner.

The guard rail, as a -whole,.l4, illustrated iupllfg- .6, iS, brgadlyspeaking, secured in place through the "i agency of the base plate 16carrying the brace blocks 18, shown in perspective in Fig. 7. In theparticular case here illustrated, this base plate 16 is made in onepiece to extend under the rail 10 over four ties 12, but obviously thelength of this base plate may be varied without departing from thisinvention. The brace blocks 18 are rigidly secured upon the base plate16 either by belng made integral therewith, as shown, or by any othersuitable means. They are preferably connected trgether by a verticalplate or flange 20 having therein at suitable intervals bolt holes 22.TheV base plate 16 is securable in adjusted position transversely of therail and lengthwise of the tie through the use of spikes 24 passingthrough the angularly notched adjusting holes 28 provided for thepurpose in the manner well known in the art.

The top of each block 18 is cut away to form the horizontally inclinedor wedge surface 30, the inclination of each of these wedge surfacesbeing substantially the same and preferably, though not necessarily, atsubstantially the same height above the base plate 16.

Extending horizontally through the inner face of each brace block; viz.,the face adjacent to the rail 10, and below the adjacent wedge surface30, is a slot or recess, in the case illustrated in the principalfigures the U-shaped recess 32 having its upper face 33 extendingparallel to the base plate 16. A modified form of this slot is shown, at80 in Fig. 10, in which the upper face is marked- 33a. These slots arepreferably, though not necessarily, made with their upper faces 33 or33a substantially the same height above the base plate.

The guard rail 14, heretofore referred to"l in general terms only, ispreferably made in' angular form with a horizontal tread flange. 40extending from a vertical flange 42. On the under surface of this treadflange 40 are a plurality of depending blocks 44 having lower horizontalinclined or wedge surfaces 46 corresponding in angularity to thesurfaces 30 of the brace blocks heretofore described. These surfaces 46just described are so located on the underside of the flange 40 of theguard that when the parts are in" assembled position, one of these wedgesurfaces 4.6. besseres; @e adjacent .Wedge Surf;

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face 30 on a brace block, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. l

vExtending from the vertical flange 42 of the guard rail and below eachwedge sur-v face 46, heretofore described, is a horizontally extendingfiange 50 of such a size, shape-and location that it readily enters andslides in thehorizontal slot 32 or S0 as the case may be, in theadjacent brace block. As these horizontal flanges 50 Aare like the slots32er Y100 parallel-to the base plate 16 and the wedge `surfaces 30 and46 are inclined thereto, it is entirely obvious that it only takes arelatively short movement of the guard rail 14 horizontally to theright,

as viewed in Fig. 9, to effectually wedge the guardrail onto the braceblocks, and that corresponding movement of the guard rail in theopposite direction'will release this locking effect so that so far asthe partsv heretofore described are concerned at least, the guard railmay be removed from the brace blocks.

In order to insure the proper positioning of the guard rail 14 withreference to the rail 10 and upon the brace blocks when the parts are inassembled position, the guard rail is provided with a plurality ofhorizontally extending separating lugs 54 located on the rail side'ofthe guard rail, extending to the rail and engaging it under the railhead 56, as clearly appears in Fig. 4. In the particular case hereillustrated, only two of these members 54 are provided and they arelocated directly opposite to the two central brace blocks. The positionand length of these members 54 along the rail is not material to theoperation of the device. The guardrail is, as usual, bent outwardly atits ends, as shown in Fig. 1, and is pref# erably provided with end footguards and 62 integral therewith. The ends of the guard rail are securedto suitably located ties by the brackets 64 and spikes 65 in theordinary manner.

' The vertical flange 42 of the guard rail is so located with referenceto the other parts heretofore kdescribed that, Vas clearly appears inFig.'5, it lies inside of and is slidable horizontally Yalong the plateor flange 2O connecting the brace blocks. and it isprovided at suitableintervals with vholes 6,8 adapted, when the parts are in finallyassembled position, to register with the holes 22, heretofore described,so that one or more bolts may be inserted through these sets ofholes, asshown, to rigidly secure the parts in position and prevent the guardrail wedge surfaces 46 from backing off from the brace block inclinedsurfaces 30. In the drawings, three of these bolts 70are shown, but'aless number may be used without departing from the invention.

jIt should be noticed that the members 5'0 altrettanta-aie .paraaait-leerse pese tion, engage the brace blocks heretofore described toprevent any vertical movement of the guard rail with reference to themare only slightly longer than the brace blocks vthemselves and are notas long as the distance between the respective brace blocks, the resultbeing that when the guard rail has been moved from the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2 to the leftuntil these members 50 are clear of theiradjacent brace blocks, the guard rail can be lifted vertically upwardand-removed entirely from engagement with the rail and the brace block.

In the operationof installing the device, the base plate 16 with thelbrace blocks at` tached thereto is inserted under the rail 10 andadjusted as near as may be to what is supposed to be its final position.The guard rail 14 is then held with the members 50 between the braceblocks, and then lowered into position with the upper flange 40 restingupon the tops of the brace blocks, the guard rail being tilted in thelowering operation to allow the members 54 to pass under the rail head56. The guard rail and attached parts is now moved to the right untilthe parts assume the position 'shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the guard railbeing driven horizontally to the right as hard as may b e necessarytoinsure proper engagement of the respective wedge surfaces 30 and 46,after which the bolts 70 are put in place. In practice, it may bedesirable not to bore either the holes 22 or the holesv 68, dependingupon the material of which the respec tive parts are made, until theforegoing ad-v justments have been initially made. During the foregoingpositioning yof the parts', any adjustments of the brace blocks neededmay be made by changing the locations of the spikes 24 in the slots 28.When everything is finally adjusted, the brace blocks are finallysecured in place by the driving of theV spikes 74.

If, at any time, the guard rail needsrepair or replacing, it can beremoved by first'v taking out the bolts 70, driving the guard rail tothe left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and lifting it out. all as hasheretofore been more fully described.

Havino thus described In invention what I claim as new and desire' tosecure by Letters Patent, is :--V

1. In combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured adjacent thereto, and a guard raill having oppositely projectingmembers entering respectively the brace blocks and the space below thehead of the main rail, for the purposes set forth. A f

2. The combination with the main rail, a plurality of bracey blockssecured thereto, a guard rail supported by the brace blocks havingoppositely projecting V'members en tering respectively the bra-cel'blocks'.and the'f space below the head of the main rail, and means forrigidly securing the guard rail in said position.

3. The combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured thereto, a guard rail supported by the brace blocks havingoppostely projecting members entering respectively the brace blocks andthe space below the head of the main rail, and wedge devices tightlysecuring the parts in said position.

4. The combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured adjacent thereto, a guard rail supported by the brace blockshaving oppositely projecting members entering respectively the braceblocks and the space below the head of the main rail, and wedge devicesformed on the guard rail and the brace blocks for tightly securing theparts in position.

5. The combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured adjacent thereto, a guard rail supported by the brace blockshaving oppositelv projecting members entering respectively the braceblocks and the space below the head of the main rail, and wedge devicesformed on the tops of the brace blocks and on adjacent parts of theguard rail for tightly securing the parts in position.

6. ln combination with a main rail, a plurality of brace blocks securedadjacent to the rail, along it, a substantially straight guard railsupported by the brace blocks at a distance from the main rail andslidable parallel to the main rail; means spacing the guard rail fromthe main rail; and means placed at intervals along the guard railadapted, when the guard rail is in one position lengthwise of itself, toengage the brace blocks and secure the guard rail thereto whilepermitting ready removal of the guard rail from the brace blocks whenthe guard rail is moved lengthwise of itself to a certain otherposition.

7. In combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured adjacent to the rail along it, a substantially straight guardrail supported by the brace blocks at a distance from the main rail andslidable parallel to the main rail; means spacing the guard rail fromthe main rail; and

wedge de vices placed at intervals along the guard rail adapted, whenthe guard rail is in one position lengthwise of itself, to engage thebrace blocks and secure the guard rail thereto while permitting readyremoval of the guard rail from the brace blocks when the guard rail ismoved lengthwise of itself to a certain other position.

8. ln combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured adjacent to the rail along it, a substantially straight guardrail supported by the brace blocks at a distance .from the main rail andslidable guard rail is moved lengthwise of itself to a certain otherposition, and supplemental means for preventing loosening of the wedgedevices. v Y

9. ln combination with the main rail, a plurality of brace blockssecured adjacent to the rail along it, a substantially straight guardrail supported by the brace blocks at avdistance from the main rail andslidable parallel to the main rail; means spacing the guard rail fromthe main rail; wedge devices placed at intervals along the guard railadapted, when the guard rail is in one position lengthwise of itself, toengage the brace blocks and secure the guard rail thereto whilepermitting ready removal of the guard rail from the brace blocks whenthe guard rail is moved lengthwise of itself to a certain otherposition, and a bolt device engaging the guard rail and the brace blockmechanism for preventing loosening of the wedge devices.

10. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a main railand the ties supporting the same; a base plate extending over several ofthe ties inserted under the rail; means for securing the base plate tothe ties; a pluralitv of brace blocks rising from the base plate on oneside of the rail spaced at intervals one from the other and from themain rail, there being slots cut in the brace blocks open toward therail, the tops of said slots being parallel to the axis of the mainrail; wedge faces formed on the brace blocks at an angle to the centralaxis of the main rail; a guard rail adapted to rest upon and besupported by the brace blocks having along its length projectionsentering said slots in the brace blocks; wedge surfaces on the guardrail adapted to engage said wedge surfaces on the brace blocks; aspacing member extending from the guard rail to the main rail; and meansfor rigidly securing all 0f the parts in position when the wedge membershave been driven into engagement with each other.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination with a main railand the ties supporting the same; a base plate extending over several ofthe ties inserted under the rail; means securing said base plate to thetie; a plurality of brace blocks rising from the base plate on one sideof the rail spaced at intervals one from the other and from the mainrail, there being slots cut in the brace blocks open toward the rail,the tops of said slots being parallel to the axis of the .main

rail; wedge faces formed on the brace blocks at an angle to the centralaxis of the main rail; a guard rail of angular cross-section adapted torest upon and be supported by the brace blocks with one side of theangle lying over and resting upon the brace block, the other side of theangle forming a vertical member substantially parallel to the main rail,said guard rail being slidable within limits lengthwise of the braceblocks; wedge faces formed at intervals along the under side of thehorizontal side of the an,- gular vguard rail, one for engagement witheach of the Wedge faces of the brace blocks; correspondingly locatedflanges. extending from the verticalside of the guard rail entering andadapted to slide in said slots in the brace blocks; means extending fromthe guardrail to the main rail to space ittherefrom; and means forrigidly locking the parts in nal assembled position, the lengths of thelast mentioned flanges on the' guard railv being such that when theguard rail is erencey to the main rail and brace blocks.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name 1n the presenceof two witnesses.

BENEDICT T. GIBBS, JR.' Witnesses:

DWIGHT B. CHEEVER, M. S. ROSENZWEIG.

Copiesl of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

